The Brookhaven leader., 1887-04-21


about the same time night here in Brook
haven.
Pursuant to the following call, the
citizens of the town of Lexington, Miss,
met ut the Court House on April LIST,
! 1887, which call is. VIZ:
ATTENTION! ATTENTION!
"Whcreas, This is the last day for the
payment of corporation taxes for the
! fiscal year 1856, and
! Whereas, none Of said taxes have yet
been paid, and
Whereas, our corporation affairs are in n
mixed and unsatisfactory condition,
it is suggested that the citizens aud tax
payers Of the town of Lexington meet at
tho Court House at 4 o'clock p. NJ, this,
LIST day of April, 1887, aud try to devise
some settlement of sad matter"
(Signed by the leading citizens of the
town.
G.. A. Wilson read said call and explain
ed the object of tho meeting, and on
motion of c. V. Gwin, J. Pitchford was
chosen Chairman and f.. II. Buck Secre-
tary, and which organization was made
permanent.
W. A. brennan, clerk of the Board of
Aldermen, being present, WAS asked to
make statement of tho town finances,
aud for what purpose taxes were levied
and collected. He stated that out of
possible collection of $4,000 between
$4,000 aud $4,000 was to pay salaries
and commissions to tho officers Of the
town. Six hundred dollars was paid TO
the mayor sud marshall and the balance
of said $500. 90 or $500 10 to the clerk and
treasurer and for collecting and krepiug(D
tho money. x. Bowers, the town treas
nrer, was asked how much money the
mayor had paid into the town treasury
in the last twelve months, to which he
answered, five dollars only"
C.V. Gwin then addressed the meeting
aud pointed out the evil of IL small town
like Lexington, burdcned like it WAS by
IL heavy railroad tax, hrapng up taxa
ton to pay town officials, and that no
other town of anything like the size of
Lexington paid salaries, etc.
G. A. Wilson followed on the ssne
subject and ca He'd the attention of tue
meeting to the fact that there WAS not u
slde walk in the whole town, and that
other towns that did not follow the prac-
tice Of pay irg all or nearly all "i its
revenues out for salaries had side walks
and good streets. That the mayor and
marshal had only returned five dollars
into tho town treasury in one year, and
had drawn out over six hundred dollars
in salaries and commits iuns; that they
were getting their salaries tor nothing
aud being supported by the town. That
such u thing WAS wrong. and i'll the Ian
guage OF the Pr, sdent, in his veto
message of the Texas Seed Bill, at was
tho duty OF the people to support the
government and not the government to
rupport the people, individuals etc"
q. A. Wilson moved that
Whereas, tho Board of Mayor and
Aldermen where in favor Of paying salar
les to town officials; and
Whereas, there were worthy and
competent citizens who were willing to
perform said duties without pay; that
the said Board of Mayor and Aldermen be
and are hereby requested to resign.
which motion was seconded by {. v.
Gwin aud J. I. Meade.
Aldermen Noel, Alexander and Dren-
nan being present, stated to the
meeting that if it was ths desire of a
majority of the citizens present that the
salaries be discontinued that they would
vote to do so; that they gave salaries
because it had been the custom of the
town to do so heretofore. Whereupon
G. A. Wilson withdrew said motion with
consent of the seconds, and offered the
following, which WAS seconded and
carried without n dissenting voice:
Resolved, That the Board of Mayor
and Aldermen Of Lexington he and al e
hereby requested not 10 pay any salaries
to the town officers beyond the prrquls-
| ties of offices of Mayor and Marshal, and
that the State Senator and Representa-
tives he requested to 30 amend the char
ter of the town."
On motion tho nesting adjourned
sine die.
| J, PITCHFORD, Chairman.